Dear Friends,

This weekend we mark Remembrance Sunday. There will be an Act of Remembrance at the War Memorials in Lynton (outside the Town Hall) and Parracombe (outside Christchurch) from 10.45 am. In Lynton this will be followed by a service in St Mary’s at 11.20. In Martinhoe there will be service of Holy Communion with an Act of Remembrance beginning at 9am. As I gathered with the children and teachers of the West Exmoor Federation for their service at Woody Bay Station on Armistice Day (see sermon), I was reminded that we were not able to keep to this tradition last year. What we were aware of last year though, was the comparisons people were making between the community spirit that had arisen as neighbours came together in mutual support through the early days of pandemic lockdown, and the experience of war-time resilience.

It is my hope, that our remembering together this year re-invigorates that spirit of service, love and care that represents the best of human nature. That it reminds us of our hope to reset our values and attitudes as we recover from the pandemic.

Reading the names of those from the area who lost their lives in the wars of the 20th century is a huge privilege, and here it is a deeply profound experience because the surnames are those still familiar in local life (in a way that is less direct in bigger towns and cities). We have the privilege of living in close knit communities – it is my prayer that we can continue to honour the generations who have shaped our communities by the love we continue to show for each other, and to those who visit this place, modelling that “pandemic reset” we all hoped for.

God bless

Samantha